Albania, Italian Protectorate. An Order of Fidelity, Grand Officer’s Set, c.1942

(Urdhëni I Kalorësisë Besa, Ylli I Oficer I Madh). Six-pointed silver star, each point comprising seven graduated faceted chiselled rays; the face with a circular central red enamel medallion bearing the silver-gilt helmet of Skanderbeg within a black enamel ring with silver-gilt rope borders and bearing a Savoy knot border with crossed silver-gilt fasces below; the reverse plain with circular central maker’s cartouche of E. Gardino Successors D. Cravanzola Rome and with pin for wear; width 72.5 mm (2.85 inches), height 84.5 mm (3.32 inches), extremely fine. Neck badge in silver gilt with black enamel base, silver linked chain with light blue enameled Fert, centre in silver gilt backed by red enamels affixed to base via 5 pins, hinged suspension with hand painted red eye, reverse hallmarked 800 silver and 66 | TU, maker's plate of E.Gardino separately affixed to reverse, measuring 51.5 mm (w) x 87 mm (h-inclusive of linked suspension), minimal contact, extremely fine.

Footnote: The Order was instituted by Royal Decree 390 of 16 April 1940 and 392 of 18 April 1940 by King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy as King of Albania ‘‘Me dallue e me shpërblye meritimet e veçanta të fitueme nga qytetarët Shqiptarëe, Italianë e të huej në çdo lame aktiviteti civil e ushtarak ndaj Kombit Shqiptar, tue I njoftë këtij Urdhëni randësinë ma të madhe’ (To distinguish and reward the special merits of the Albanian, Italian and other foreign citizens to the Albanian nation in every area of civil and military activity, giving this Order the highest hierarchy). Gjergj Kastrioti (1405-1468), known as Skanderbeg, was an Albanian nobleman and noted military commander, who served the Ottoman Empire in 1423–43, the Republic of Venice in 1443–47, and finally the Kingdom of Naples until his death in 1468.

He led an uprising in Albania against Ottoman rule in 1443, uniting warring Albanian feudal clans into an alliance that resisted invading Ottoman Turks for some 25 years. His defeats of overwhelming Ottoman forces were attributed to his first-hand knowledge of Turkish military tactics and his brilliant leadership and strategic prowess. His helmet and sword, now in the collection of Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, are revered by Albanians as symbols of independence and nationhood. The number of persons to be awarded the Grand Officer’s Star annually was limited by statute to ten making it exceptionally rare.

This offering is a part of the "Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection", a preeminent assemblage of world Orders, Medals, and Decorations composed solely by Dr.Goodwin between 1946-1967. Dr. Goodwin had a successful career as an educator and prominent physician in New York as well as actively serving in both World Wars with the United States Medical Corps. He acted as both President and Vice-President of the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) and is responsible for organizing their first convention in 1960. He maintained further membership with the American Society of Military Collectors, the International Orders Research Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His knowledge and passion for history and awards is evident in this meticulously compiled collection that is now available in its entirety for the first time exclusively on eMedals.com.